Calculating-machine.



C. J. SMITH.

CALCULATING MACHINE.

APPLlcAloN flLED Nov. 12. 1915.

Patented May 1, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

atbomws:

C. 1. SMITH. cALcuLA'mG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I2. ISIS.

1,224,333. Patented Mayl, 19u.

2l SHEETS-SHEET 2,

Mgg/m@ r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHESTER J'. SMITH, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK.

CALCULATING-MACHINE.

Application filed November 12, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER J. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCalculating-h/Iaoliines, of which the following, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a speciicatlon.

The invention relates to calculating machines and particularly for theprice of commodities, though the device is not necessarily restricted tothis specific purpose; and the object of the improvement is.to provide asimple and convenient mechanism which may he manufactured at low cost,having a supported spring rate strip adjacent to tabulated tables onrollers and a visible inaccessible pointer adjustably movable only fromthe exterior of the case and which adjustably rests upon said ratestrips, on which, for example, the rate plate gives the price per yardand the table on the computation sheet on the rollers shows the totalamount for a given number of yards or inches, thus by turning therollers the charge for three and one-eighth yards at fifty-four centsper yard is shown at once to be a dollar and sixty-nine cents; and theinvention consists in the novel features and combinations hereinafterset forth and claimed. l

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved machinewith the casing removed showing the construction of the frame forholding the calculating mech anism. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of themachine, a portion of the casing being shown in section with the topflange removed to show the arrangement of the different parts. Fig. 3 isa plan view of one of the spring rate strips, thev central portion beingbroken away. Fig. l is a plan View of the spirally grooved rod foradjusting the movable pointer; and Fig. 5 is a plan View of the pointershowing the opening in the ends thereof for the rate figures; and Fig. 6is an edgewise View of the same showing the lug and the projectiontherein for engaging the spiral groove of the adjusting rod. Fig. 7 is asectional view at line X X in Fig. 2, showing the arrangement of theparts; and Fig. 8 is a sectional view at line Y Y in Fig. 2, showing thearrangement of the operating gears on the ends of the roller journals.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917.

Serial No. 61,143.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view at line Z Z in Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is aperspective view of one end of one of the rollers; and Fig. l1 is asimilar view of the opposite end. Fig. 12 is a plan view of one of theknobs and the gear attached thereto, the gear being shown both inedgewise and flat elevation.

Like characters of reference refe'r to corresponding parts in theseveral views.

The numeral 15 designates the sheet metal casing which is preferablymade with a removable bottom 16 which supports the frame 17 thereon. Thetop of the casing 15 is formed with an inturned flange 18 to provide acentral opening which is covered by a glass 19, which glass is held inplace by the frame 17 to cover the interior mechanism of the machinewith full view of the recording elements.

The frame 17 is composed of the side plates 20 and front end plate 21and rear end plate 22 which are preferably attached to one another bymeans of the slots 23 in the side plates and oppositely turned pairs oflugs 21 on the end plates, thereby attaching said end plates to saidside plates a spaced distance from the ends of the side plates 20 toprovide for the gearing and journals. The side plates 20 are held firmlyin position ya spaced distance 'from the inner walls of the casing 15 bymeans of the spaced struck out lugs 25 at both the front and rear ends,the length of the lugs 25 and the size of the casing or box 15 beingproportioned to receive said lugs therein and hold the supporting frame17 forthe calculating mechanism.

The calculating mechanism is supported upon the end plates 21 and 22 andconsists of the two pairs of rollers 26 and 27, the sheets 28 and 29,the rate strips 41 and pointer 43. Each pair of rollers 26 and 27 isplaced verticallyy one above the other, and the sheets 2S and 29 withthe calculations thereon are attached to the rollers 2G and 27 inlengthwise grooves and rolled upon said rollers so that they roll freelybackward and forward from one roller to the other according to thedirection in which said pairs of rollers are turned.

The rollers 26 and 27 arc substantiallyr alike having bearing pins orjournals 8() at the rear end and 31 at the front end` and have suitableend flanges 3l. to hold the sheets 28 and 29 in line as they roll andreroll. A central partition 32 is provided between the two pairs ofrolls 26 and 27 and is attached to the enfl plates 21 and 22 by means ofslots 23 and oppositely turned lugs 24 in the same manner that the endplates 21 and 22 are attached to the side plates 20.

The rollers 26 and 27 are turned by means of connecting gearing for eachpair of rolls and knobs for turning'said pairs, thus a small gear 33 isprovided on the journal 31 of each of the rolls 26 and 27, and each ofthe pairs of gears 33 are connected by an intermeshing large gear 35.The large gear 35 is attached to the shaft of a knob 36 which shaft hasa journal 37 which is revolubly mounted in the front plate 21 so that bymanually turning the knob 36 in either direction the sheets 28 and 29are rolled from one to the other of the rollers 26 and 27. In order tohold the shaft 38 of the knob 36 firmly in line, a plate 39 is providedon the front of plate 21 extending between the inner walls of the sideplates 20 and is attached thereto by screws 40. The large and smallgears 33 and 35 rotate the rollers 26 and 27 at high rate of speedthereby quickly turning to any desired row of figures on said sheets.

The rates or prices are placed upon thin strips of spring sheet metal 41in line with the computation figures on the sheets and preferably eachside of each roll though one side of each of said rolls is sufiicientwhere there are only a. few rates and computations. Should, however, thenumber of rates and computations be largely increased the strips 41 onboth sides of the rollers 26 and 27 may be used. The strips 41 aresupported in slots or elongated openings 42 in the end plates 21 and 22,the ends of the strips 41 being reduced in width so that they may turnslightly if'it is necessary in order to accommodate said rate strips tothe increase in size of the top rolls as the sheets 28 and 29 are rolledthereon. This is usually, however, but a slight increase and isaccommodated by the spring of the sheet metal in the strips 41. Thesheet metal strips 41 are eut away at each end on the side toward theroll and inserted in the holes 42 in each end b v springing said strips41 sidewise sufliciently to permit the ends entering said holes 42.

A pointer 43 is provided having openings 44 therein to exhibit thedesired rate numerai and to shut out the rate numerals each side thereofso as to preclude liability to error in the computation. The pointer 43is provided with a downwardly projecting` lug 45 which has the hole 46therethrough with the inwardly projecting lug 47 therein. fi. spirallygrooved shaft 48 is rotatively mounted in the end plates 21 and 22inidway between the two top rollers 26 and 27 msi-r ilu upper edgiofille central partition 32 of the frame 17. The spiral groove 49 fits theprojection 47 so that as the shaft 48 is rotated the pointer 43 travelsbackward and forward in the groove 49. In order that the pointer 43 maytravel freely or ioat and not dig its points into the sheets 28 and 29,one or both of its outer ends are supported upon the rate strips 41 ateach side. Resting freely in this position it slides backward andforward on said rate strips with perfect freedom and is consequentlyalways in close proximity thereto so that the desired rate numeral isquickly and easily found.

As shown in section in Fig. 7 the pointer 43 is balanced on rod 48 totilt in either direction being shown with one end resting upon one ofthe spring rate strips 41 and the other end tilted above the rate strip41 on the opposite side of the grooved rod 48 with a space between saidrate strip 41 and the pointer 43. lVhen the top rolls are wound equallyand sutliciently large the balanced pointer 43 will stand level and theinner edges of the rate strip 41 will spring or turn ysufficiently forthe enlargement. rlhis construction of the pointer i 43 in combinationwith the spring rate strip 41 permits any inequality in the increase anddecrease. in the size of the top rolls each side of the spiral rod` yetthe spring rate strips 41 are in constant contact with the rollers eventhough unequal sized and the pointer adapts to said inequality bytipping to one side suiiiciently to accommodate the same. It willtherefore he seen that I have a balanced pointer on the spiral controlrod 48 and is adjustable to any of the changing conditions in the sizesof the rolls caused by the unequal winding of the sheets thereon fordifferent calculations.

A small gear 5G is attached to the front end of the shaft 48 and a largegear 51 is mounted on plates 39 and 2l on a suitable shaft 53 upon theouter end of which a knob is attached to provide for the rapid manualturning of the shaft 48, the large gear 51 insuring the rapid rotationof said spirally grooved shaft.

In assembling the calculating mechanism the rollers 26 and 27 arerotativelv mounted in the end plates 21 and 22 alonr with the shaft 48upon which the pointer 43 is placed. The central partition 32 and sideplates 20 are then attached to the. end plates 21 and by the insertionof the lugs 24 through the slots 23 and the spreading of said lugs 24.The gears 33 and 5() are then attached to the shafts 3S and 53. Theplate 39 is then inserted between the side plates 20 and fastened withthe screws v40. y

The gears 35 and 51 are slipped into place as nearly as possible inalinement with the holes through the plate 39 and in the end plaie 2l,after which ."lic frame 20 with the portions of the mechanism thus farattached thereto is inserted in the outer casing which is placed bottomupward for that purpose. Holes are provided in the outer casing 15 inalinement with the holes in the plate 39 and end plate 21 so that theshafts 3S and of the knobs 3G and 52 may be inserted through said holes,and the inner end 37 of the shaft 38 will be inserted through the hub ofthe gear 35 on each side and engage the hole in the end plate 21. Theset screws are then turned fast in the hubs 35, thereby attaching` theknobs 315 firmly to the gears 35 so that said gears are turned by said,

knobs. In like manner the gear 5l is attached to shaft 53 and meshes ingear 50 thereby turning said gear. After the gears 35 and 51 and knobs3G and 52 are assembled the bottom 16 is fastened in place by means ofsuitable screws thereby holding all the parts firmly in position.

It is apparent that any interference with the pointer 43 disturbs thecorrect operation of the machine. Said pointer 43 being by necessity apointed piece ot metal, is easily caught by the clothing of the operatoror by any passing object and bent out of shape. When once so impaired itis difficult to return to accurate position. For this reason the glasscover 19 of the casing is provided to render the )ointer inaccessible sothat no one can intertere with said pointer to impair the accurateaction of the same in its alinement with the rates on the strips 41, oreven move said pointer except by turning the knob 52 on the exterior ot'the casing. This construction absolutely prevents accidental or designeddisplacement of the pointer and renders it possible to move said pointerby turning said knob to a given position for recurring calculations.

I claim as new l. In a calculating machine, a casing, a roller journaledtherein, a calculating sheet wound on the roller, a rate strip arrangedin the casing adjacent the roller and adapted for movement as thediameter of the roller is varied by the rolling and unrolling of thesheet thereon, a laterally movable pointer extending over the stripA andcarried by the latter to move therewith, and means mounting the pointerwhereby the indicating end of the latter is engageable with the strip.

2. In a calculating machine, a support, a roller journaled thereon, acharacter bearing sheet wound on the roller, and a. spring rate stripmounted on the support and having a resilient edge in constantcontacting relation with the sheet on the roller to yield as thediameter of the latter increases on the winding of the sheet thereon.

In a calculating machine, a casing with a transparent top to show theparts, a frame in said casing having revoluble rollers in spacedrelation therein and calculating indicia on said rollers, pointeroperating means revolubly mounted in said frame between said spacedrollers, a balanced pointer supported on said means to be moved ineither direction by the turning of said means, rate strips one each sideofsaid means adjustable to said rollers and to said balanced pointer andsupport to support the latter.

4. In a calculating machine, spaced rollers, a sheet on each windablethereon, spaced spring strips interposed between the rollers incontacting relation with the respective sheets thereon, said stripsyielding as the diameters ofthe rollers are increased by the winding ofthe sheets thereon, and a pointer operable between and guided by thespaced strips, said pointer moving to permit of proper yielding of thestrips.

5. In a calculating machine, a frame, a roller revolubly mounted in saidframe, a sheet wound around said roller, and a spring rate stripsupported at each end in suitable openings in said frame which permit alimited rotative movement automatically as the diameter of the toproller increases and decreases as the sheet is wound thereon.

6. In a calculating machine, a frame having a pair of revolubly mountedrollers therein, a calculating sheet wound on said rollers to wind andunwind from one to the other, and a contacting spring rate stripalongside 011e of Said rollers resiliently permitting increase anddecrease of said roller vin winding said calculating sheet thereon.

7. In a calculating machine, a casing having a transparent top, a tramein said casing having four revolubly mounted rollers in pairs therein,calculating sheets wound on said rollers onto each pair, pointeroperating means between said rollers, spring rate strips one each sideof said means contacting said calculating sheets on said rollers andpermitting increase and decrease of said rollers from winding andunwinding said sheets, and a pointer engaging said operating means to bemoved thereby, said pointer slidably balanced on said means and springrate strips to float back and forth thereon.

8. In a calculating machine, a casing having a transparent top, a framein said casing comprising side and endv plates, rollers revolublymounted in pairs in said frame, a calculating sheet wound on each ofsaid pairs of rollers, spring rate strips supported at each end inopenings in said end plates at each side of said rollers, said ratestrips eut away at each end on the side toward the rollers to permit alimited rotating and springing movement thereof to allow for theincrease and decrease of said rollers from the winding and unwinding ofsaid sheets, pointer operating means and a balanced pointer engagingsaid means to be moved thereby independent of said rollers, said pointerbalanced on said means and spring rate strips substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

9. In a calculating machine, spaced rollers, a sheet on each windablethereon, spaced spring' strips interposed between the rollers incontacting relation with the respective sheets thereon, said stripsyielding as the diameters of the rollers are increased by the winding ofthe sheets thereon, and a laterally tiltable pointer movable longitudi--nally of the space between the strips, the

latter supporting the pointer against tilting and holding the sameoperative.

l0. In a calculating machine, a casing with a transparent top to showthe parts,

a frame in said casing having revoluble rollers in spaced relationtherein and calculating indicia on said rollers. pointer operating meansrevolubly mounted in said frame between said spaced rollers, a balancedpointer supported on said means to be moved in either ldirection by theturning of said means, and guides on each side of the means movablerelative to said rollers and constitilting guides for the balancedpointers.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHESTER J. SMITH.

Witnesses:

H. A. SANDBERG, E. G. VESTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

